The General Register Office for Scotland is celebrating Burns night in style, marking the birth of Scotland's national bard 248 years ago by publishing records of his birth and marriage on the net.

There's been plenty of fanfare and an exuberant press release. But in a move that seems dangerously close to confirming the worst sort of national stereotype, you can't actually see the documents unless you're prepared to pay £6. This will allow you limited access to the archive of parish registers on the Scotland's People website, and let you cast your eye over the records for the poet's birth in 1759 and his marriage to Jean Armour in 1788.

Scotland's deputy minister for public service reform, George Lyon, welcomed the publication, which marks the end a five-year mission to make all the office's records available online.

"For the first time," he said, "family historians will be able to see on their computers anywhere in the world excellent images of the oldest records held by the General Register Office for Scotland." He neglected to add that they will need to have a credit card to hand.

Anyone working on a limited budget may choose to peruse Robert Burns's testament instead, which is available for free. Or perhaps you'd like to celebrate in a more traditional way - a quick search on YouTube for Rabbie Burns turns up enough recitations to see you through the night.